Beryl Cook

I've always had a great fondness for the late Beryl Cooks paintings, which comically capture flamboyant folk going about their daily business.  

Babs & Barbara "Ooh wrap up well Babs - it's bitter out there!"

Buxom figures were her trademark; Victoria Wood described her as as "Rubens with jokes". As a shy and private person, apparently Beryl Cook shunned the limelight in favour of quietly sitting in bars, restaurants or any location with her husband, people watching; observations which would later be translated onto canvas! I imagine what her characters are saying...   

"Guiness is full of iron, you know...I drink it purely for medicinal reasons!"

I love the gorgeous "Chartiers" restaurant in Paris (I've dined here with my mum a few times!)

"Do you have them in a wider fitting, luv?"

"Tats in love!"

"Ooh she never, did she?!"

His n' Hers!

It's currently London Fashion week and there are some very intertesting characters walking around the city - obviously dashing from one show to the next. I spied this lady in Clerkenwell. I was attracted to her tattoos - a lady and a gentleman. I would have preferred them to be more colourful, but still found them quite quirky and cool!

Ealing responds to riots!



Vintage 2011

Vintage 2011 came to the Southbank this week-end. A music and fashion led celebration of food, drink, dance, art, design, comedy and everything else british, creative and cool from the 1940's-80's.

Red or Deads, Wayne Hemingway was behind the colourful event which saw the Southbank come to life with bunting, glitter balls, sandy beaches, live music and stalls selling all things vintage!

Hetty Rose shoes made out of vintage kimonos

 Hetty Rose kimono shoes suspended from the ceiling of Yo Sushi!

Sara Tiara headpieces crafted from vintage fabrics

Bunting and Glitter balls hanging from Festival hall

One of many stalls selling customised and recycled garments

Ti amo!

On the tube from Ealing Broadway to Sloane Square, this comical looking, yet stylish Italian couple sat opposite me. She had the most amazing, bronzed pins. Her effeminate "amor" spent the entire journey animatedley and tunefully chatting on his mobile whilst trying not to neglect sulky signora. (It looks as if she caught me snapping her, but I pretended I was texting!!)

Delicious dancers!

Carlos Acosta

Noel Wallace

....just because they're two of my favourite ballet dancers! I would love to see Carlos Acosta dance live. I was lucky enough to see a special performance by Noel Wallace at Wiltons Music hall, which was mesmerising...

"Lola, baby, come on!"

"Lola, baby" dawdling behind her master!

I often see this intimidating looking chap at lunch time on Exmouth market in Clerkenwell. He is a butch skinhead, with tattoos and usually wears sunglasses. He marches along with his 3 mini dogs in tow, who never seem to be in any rush and always seem to be more interested in what's going on behind them! It makes me smile to myself when I hear his booming voice gently calling out "Lola, baby, come on!"  

Where are you going?

I spied these two chaps, deep in conversation, in Clerkenwell. (Unfortunately the traffic was too noisy to hear what they were discussing!) How ever, it was not the lilac socks that initially caught my attention, but the retro red granny suitcase that was being carried with such panache! I'd love to know who they were, where they were going and what was in the suitcase?!

Ouch!

Whilst strolling along Little India in Singapore, we stumbled across a procession which celebrated the Hindu festival of Thaipusam. Shaven head devotees take part in a pilgrimage in January, on the day of the full moon, whilst undertaking various acts of devotion.

A common act is the "mortification of the flesh" by piercing the skin, tongue and cheeks with "vel" skewers, which are symbolic of the spears that were used to fight off evil spirits. Although it looked incredibly painful and some piercings were bleeding, it was a colourful and interesting spectacle!

A very regal breakfast!

Leather Lane market, rush hour and the heavens were about to open. Yet these two stylish chaps, clad in their matching flat caps & espradrills, didn't seem to have a care in the world, as they tucked in to their al fresco breakfast at "Le Regal"! I was almost tempted to ask if I could join them! 

 

Electric olive oil!

Mehmet Murat sells wonderful, fruity olive oil, including  a lemon flavoured oil (which some say is good enough to drink), from....his electrical supply shop in Clerkenwell! (Embassy Electrical stores, 76 Compton St) The oil comes from Mehmets family's olive groves in Cyprus and south-west Turkey and he imports more than a 1,000 litres per year! When I called in to buy some bottles, I was given several samples to drink....quite a strange, but delicious experience, when surrounded by fuses, wires and plugs!